Combustion valve and components thereof

ABSTRACT

A pilot operated three-way diaphragm valve having a vent valve including a closed end metal cylinder having an open end to receive the three-way valve exhaust. The cylinder has holes through it. A rubber tube is assembled over the cylinder. The cylinder and tube have an interference fit. The tube seals the cylinder holes shut until the differential pressure across the vent valve to cause venting rises to a predetermined pressure. The tube also has holes which do not lie in registration with those of the cylinder. Moreover, the tube holes are staggered relative to the cylinder holes.

ljnited States Patent [1 1 @reenwood et al.

[ ,lune d, 197d CUMBUSTION VALVE AND COMPONENTS THEREOF [75] Inventors:Roger Greenwood, Valencia;

Thomas A. Roberts, North Hollywood, both of Calif.

[73] Assignee: international Telephone and Telegraph Corporation, NewYork, NY.

[22] Filed: Feb. 7, 1973 [2]] Appl. No.: 330,220

Related US. Application Data [62] Division of Ser. No. 210,007. Dec. 20,m

[52-] US. Cl. l37/625.64, 137/525 [51] int. Cl. Flfik I'll/l0 [58] Fieldof Search 137/62564, 525 I [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS3,016.065 l/l962 Stampfli l37/625.64

3,051,198 8/1962 Martin l37/6Z5.64 3.l79,l24 /1965 Haring 137/525 X3,347,259 10/1967 Lansky et al. 137/625114 X 3,384,l l3 5/l968 Pennisil37/525 Primary ExaminerHenry T. Klinksiek Attorney, Agent, or Firm-A.Donald Stolzy [5 7] ABSTRACT A pilot operated three-way diaphragm valvehaving a vent valve including a closed end metal cylinder having an openend to receive the three-way valve exhaust. The cylinder has holesthrough it. A rubber tube is assembled over the cylinder. The cylinderand tube have an interference fit. The tube seals the cylinder holesshut until the differential pressure across the vent valve to causeventing rises to a predetermined pressure. The tube also has holes whichdo not lie in registration with those of the cylinder. Moreover, thetube holes are staggered relative to the cylinder holes.

3 Claims, 15 Drawing Figures alas-1 1L132 PATENTEDJUN 4 I914 SHEET 1 OF4 WENT DJUH 41,974 38 14; l 32 SHEET u m? 4 COMBUSTION VALVE ANDCOMPONENTS THEREOF BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This application is adivision of copending application Ser. No. 210,007 filed Dec. 20, 1971,of the same title and inventor as this application. The benefit of thefiling date of said copending application is, therefore, hereby claimedfor this application.

This invention relates to fluid pressure responsive devices, and moreparticularly, to a fluid pressure operated valve and to a vent valvewhich may be used with or without the fluid pressure operated valve.-

The present invention will have .many applications not disclosed hereinand, therefore, is not to be limited to those applications disclosed.However, the invention will be found to be especially useful whenemployed in an anti-skid air brake system.

In prior art air brake systems, it is common to enclose a ventedpneumatic valve in a cumbersome and expensive molded rubber housing tokeep the pneumatic valve as free from dirt, moisture and any otherexternal contamination as possible. Further, spring biased vent valvesof the type disclosed in copending application Ser. No. 185,235 filedSept. 30, I971, by .I. Etcheverry and .l. Doolittle for PNEUMATIC DUMPVALVE, now US. Pat. No. 3,734,] 28, have not proved successful. Inaddition, it is a serious disadvantage of prior art valves that theycannot break free from ice therearound.

Prior art pneumatic valves also dump air at an undesirably low rate.Note will be taken that it is especially important in an anti-skid airbrake system that fast dumping take place to prevent a skid.

Prior art vent valves have poor endurance and short lives.

Prior art vent valves are also expensive to construct.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, theabovedescribed and other disadvantages of the prior art are overcome byproviding a vent valve including a rigid valve body having an internalchamber therein to contain a fluid under'pressure except when vented.The valve body has a wall with at least one hole therethrough which issealed shut in the absence of differential pressure across the ventvalve. The hole is sealed off by a flexible elastic membrane which isheld in pressure contact with a portion of the external surface ofthe-valve body which extends around the hole. The pressure contact ismaintained by stretching the membrane over the hole in a directionapproximately perpendicular to the membrane thickness. The membrane isthen constructed to balloon and to expand outwardly away from the valvebody to permit venting when an adequate pressure differential across thevent valve exists.

According to an outstanding feature of the present invention, the ventvalve body and the membrane are hollow concentric tubes having aninterference fit.

Still another outstanding feature of the invention resides in the use ofplural staggered holes in the vent valve body and the elastic tube.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the vent valve of thepresent invention is easy and inexpensive to construct. Further, iteasily breaks ice away because the elasticity and flexibility of theelastic tube permits it to hunt for the weakest place in the ice andcrack it at that place.

An outstanding, yet completely unexpected, advantage of the presentinvention is that the combination of a vent valve with a fluid pressureoperated valve increases the dumping rate. This phenomenon appears to beinexplicable.

Another outstanding and unexpected advantage of the present invention isthat the staggered holes increase endurance and useful life. Further, insome cases, without a certain hole arrangement, the elastic tube mayballoon and burst.

The above-described and other advantages of the present invention willbe better understood from the following detailed description whenconsidered in connection with the accompanying drawings.

' BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings which are to beregarded as merely illustrative:

FIG. lis a-vertical sectional view of a portion of the combination valveof the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the combination valve identical to FIG. 1except that certain component parts thereof are shown in a differentoperative position;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the combination valve shown in FIGS. 1 and2;

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view through a vent valve taken on theline 4-4 shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view of the vent valve taken on theline 55 shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a transverse sectional view of another portion of the ventvalve taken on the line 6-6 shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of another embodiment of the ventvalve of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is an end elevational view of the valve shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of the vent valve taken on theline 9-9 shown in FIG. 8;

FIG; 10 is a broken away side elevational view of another embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view of still another embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 12 is a transverse sectional view of the embodiment shown in FIG.11 taken on the line 12l2;

FIG. 13 is a transverse sectional view of still another embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 14 is a greatly enlarged perspective view of a small portion of arigid cylinder shown in FIG. 11 which surrounds a hole therethrough; and

FIG. 15 is another greatly enlarged perspective view of another smallportion of the rigid cylinder in the vicinity of a groove therearound,as shown in FIG. 11.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The Three-Way Valve of FIGS. 1and 2 According to the one feature of the invention, the use of a ventvalve of a particular construction is highly advantageous. It is also anoutstanding advantage of the present invention that this vent valve maybe used with a three-way valve I0 shown in FIG. 1 in the drawings.However, the vent valve is not, in fact, shown in either one of FIGS. 1and 2.

In FIG. 1, three-way valve is shown including a valve body 11 having aninlet port 12, an outlet port 13 connected to an anti-skid air brakesystem 14, and an exhaust outlet port 15.

A valve disc 16 rests either against a seat 17 or against a seat 18.Valve disc 16 may be moved from against seat 17 to against seat 18 andvice versa selectively.

Valve body 11 has a recess 19 therein in which a valve stem 20 isslidable vertically, as viewed in FIG. 1. Recess 19, thus, guidesvertical movement of valve stem 20 in the direction of its axis. Valvestem 20 is moved when the pressure in an actuating chamber 21 exceedsthe pressure in an exhaust chamber 22.

Actuating chamber 21 is generally defined between a portion of a casting23 and a diaphragm 24.

Valve disc 16 includes a rigid plate 25 and a conventional soft covering26 therefor. Plate 25 has a hole 27 therethrough through which valvestem 20 projects. Valve stem 20 has a flange 28 against which plate 25abuts. Covering 26 is bonded to plate 25.

A cup 29 is seated against the lower surface of diaphragm 24. As isconventional, diaphragm 24 is flexible.

A sleeve 30 is slidable over valve stem 20 to the position shown betweenplate 25 and cup 29.

Washers 31, 32 and 33 are slidably engaged with valve stem 29 in anupward vertical succession immediately above the upper surface ofdiaphragm 24. A nut 34 is threaded onto the upper end of valve stem 20and is screwed down tight so as to hold that portion of valve stem 20between flange 28 and nut 34 in tension. In that location, thus, plate25, sleeve 30, cup 29, and washers 31, 32 and 33 lie in axialcompression. The same is true of diaphragm 24.

A generally cylindrical body 35 includesvalve seat 17 and is fixedinside valve body 11 in a position approximately concentric with achamber therein. As will be explained, exhaust chamber 22 may beconsidered to be both the interior of body 35 and the exterior spacetherearound between it and valve body 11 above an O-ring 36 carried bybody 35. This is true because body 35 has holes 38 and 39 therethroughwhich provide free and open communication from the interior of body 35to the exterior thereof.

A coiled spring 37 is maintained in compression between the lower end ofcup 29 and the lower end of body 35. Coiled spring 37, thus, keeps valvedisc 16 in engagement with valve seat 17 unless the pressure inactuating chamber 21 is enough larger than that in exhaust chamber 22 toovercome the force of coiled spring 37.

Normally, air under pressure is supplied to port 12. System 14 may beentirely conventional. System 14 may also include a diaphragm operatedset of brakes which receives air from port 13. Thus, it may be said thatvalve disc 16 with valve seat 18 forms a valve which is normally opened.This is true also because, as will be explained, pressure suppliedthrough inlet port 12 is required inside actuating chamber 21 in orderto place valve disc 16 in sealing engagement with valve seat 18.

The valve 10 is a pilot operated diaphragm valve. The diaphragm is thediaphragm 24. The pilot valve is indicated at 40 including an operatingsolenoid 41, and a plunger 42.

Valve body 11 has a passageway 43' extending from inlet port 12 to acounterbore 44 in which an Oring 45 is located between valve body 11 andcasting 23. Casting 23 has an opening 46 therethrough. A chamber 59 isprovided around plunger 42.

Casting 23 has a valve seat 48 around opening 46. A fitting 49 is fixedconcentrically with solenoid 41 and has an outlet passage 50. Fitting 49also has a valve seat 51. Plunger 42 is, thus, vertically slidable froma position in engagement with valve seat 51 to a position in engagementwith valve seat 48, and vice versa. Thus, either opening 50 or opening46 are closed, but both of these openings 50 and 46 are not closed atthe same time.

Pressure on valve seat 51 can be held to a predetermined amount by theuse of a coiled spring .52, as shown in FIG. 1.

Plunger 42 includes a hollow cylindrical housing 53 in which a plug 54is slidable. Plug 54 is prevented from moving outwardly of cylinder 53by an internal shoulder 55. Spring 52 biases plug 54 against shoulder55. A soft valve material 56 is fixed in the end of plug 54 to engagevalve seat 51.

OPERATION In the operation of the structures shown in FIGS. 1 and 2,when solenoid 41 is deenergized, spring 47 holds soft valve material 57fixed relative to plunger 42 in engagement with valve seat 48. Thismeans that material 56 is spaced from valve seat 51 and actuatingchamber 21 is vented to the atmosphere through a passageway 58 incasting 23, through chamber 59 surrounding plunger 42, and outwardlythrough opening 50.

The fluid pressure in exhaust chamber 22 never is below atmospheric.Thus, in the case shown in FIG. 1, there is no differential pressureacross diaphragm 24, and the preponderant force of spring 37 bringsvalve disc 16 into engagement with valve seat 17 and prevents any fluidentering inlet port 12 from also entering exhaust chamber 22. At thesame time, valve disc 16, as shown in FIG. 1, is spaced from valve seat18 and fluid or air underpressure is permitted to enter inlet port 12and exit from'outlet port 13 through the space between valve disc 16 andvalve seat 18.

As will be apparent from the foregoing, FIG. 1 shows the position of theparts when solenoid 41 is deenergized and FIG. 2 shows the position-ofthe parts when the solenoid 41 is energized.

In FIG. 2, when solenoid 41 is energized, plunger 42, including cylinder53, which is made of a magnetic material, rises and material 56 engagesvalve seat 51. Opening 50, which acts as a vent, is neverthelessineffective as a vent when material 56 engages valve seat 51. Thus, airunder pressure enters chamber 59 through passageway 43 and opening 46because plunger 42 has moved upwardly spacing material 57 from valveseat 48. Air from inlet port 1-2 entering chamber 59 through passageway43 and opening 46 also enters actuating chamber 21 through passageway58.

As shown in FIG. 2, valve body 11 has a web 60 which partially definesan inlet chamber 61 surrounding valve stem 20. The upper end of chamber61 has a cylindrical bore 62 which forms an inlet chamber port throughweb 60 inside valve seat 18.

Due to the fact that the area on top of diaphragm 24 which is notclamped between casting 23 and valve body II is greater than 1rD /4,where D is the diameter of bore 62, the line pressure in actuatingchamber 21 causes valve means I6 to engage valve seat 118. This preventsthe flow of air from inlet port l2 to outlet port 13. On the other hand,air entering outlet port 13 is vented. This air passes through anopening 63 through the lower end of body 35 inside valve seat 17. Airentering outlet port 13 may then pass from exhaust chamber 22 to theatmosphere, as will be described. However, the first step in reachingthe atmosphere is to pass through holes 36 and/or 39 through the wall ofbody 35. The air passing through holes 38 and 39 will then eventuallyflow through exhaust chamber port and be vented by a vent valve, to bedescribed.

The Vent Valve of FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 6 In FIG. 3, a vent valve 64 isshown which is constructed in accordance with the present invention.Vent valve 64 is sealed or fixed integrally with the valve body 11 ofthree-way valve l0. Alternatively, vent valve 64 may include a blindended tube 65 which is threaded into a cylindrical projection 66 ofvalve body Ill as shown in FIG. 4. Exhaust chamber port 15 is, thus,positionedas indicated in FIG. 4. Tube 65 has a circular disc shaped endplate 67 which closes the upper end thereof as viewed in FIG; 4. Tube 65has cylindrical internal and external surfaces 68 and 69, respectively.Tube 65 has a flange 70 which abuts the upper end of projection 66, asviewed in FIG. 4.

Tube 65 is made of a rigid material. For. example, tube 65 may be madeof metal.

A rubber tube 71, opened at both ends, is positioned over tube 65.Rubber tube 71 is, thus, both flexible and elastic.

Although it is not necessary or desirable for rubber tube 71 to retainits shape should it be removed from tube 65, if it would retain itsshape, its inside diameter would be less than the diameter of theexternalsurface 69 of tube 65. Thus, tubes 65 and 71 have aninterference lit. Rubber tube 71 is, thus, stretched in circumferentialtension around tube 65.

As shown in both FIGS. 3 and 4, the lower end of tube 71 is clamped tothe external surface 69 of tube 65 by an entirely conventional hoseclamp 72.

As shown in all of the FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, tube 65 has a cylindrical wall73 above flange 70 through which six holes 74 are positioned. Althoughit is not absolutely required, holes 74 may be circular, and they mayall be of the same diameter. All of the holes 74, thus, have axes. Dueto the fact that internal tube surface 68 is cylindrical, this surfacehas a symmetrical axis 75. As shown, cylindrical surfaces 68 and 69 areconcentric. The axes of holes 74 all lie in a single plane which isperpendicular to axis 75. The axis of each hole 74 is then spaced anangle B, as shown in FIG. 6, from the hole 74 on each side thereof. Thenumber of holes may be varied. However, in the case of six holes, Bequals 60. In other words, the holes 74 are uniformly positioned or haveequal spacings around the wall 73 of tube 65. The same is true of holes76 and 77 which extend completely through tube 71. That is, again, holes76 are circular, are of the same sizes and have axes lying in a planeperpendicular to axis 75. However, the holes 76 are spaced from theholes 74 so that holes 76 do not lie in substantial registration withholes 74. The same is true of holes 77. That is, holes 77 do notsubstantially lie in registration with holes 74. Moreover, holes 77,too, are circular, of the same size and have As shown in FIG. 5, holes76 may be equally or uniformly spaced. The axes of each pair ofimmediately adjacent holes 76 may be located at the'angle ,8, shown inFIG. 5. It will be noted that the positions of themes of holes 74 inFIG. 6 are not the same as the axes of holes 76 shown in FIG. 5. Thus,so to speak, each hole 74 is located midway between each pair of holes76, shown in FIG. 5, although the sections of FIGS. 5 and 6 areobviously taken in different vertical planes, as viewed in FIG. 4. Tosay it another way, the holes 74 are staggered relative to holes 76.Moreover, since holes 77 are in, more or less, vertical alignment withholes 76, holes 74 are thus also staggered relative to holes 77.

THE ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENT OF FIGS. 7, 8 AND 9 In FIG. 7, a three-wayvalve 10 is shown having a valve body II. A vent valve 64' is mounted onvalve body 11', vent valve 64 having a rigid tube 65'. Threeway valve16' may be identical to valve 10 except that it has valve body 11' whichis fixed integrally with rigid tube 65'.

As shown in FIG. 8, tube 65' has a surface 69' which may be identical tosurface 69 of tube 65. Vent valve 64' may be identical to vent valve 64with three exceptions. The first exception is that tube65 is madeintegral with valve body 11. The second exception is that hose clamp 72has been omitted. The third exception is that plate 67 is identical toplate 67 except that plate 67 is circular and has an outer cylindricalsurface 78 concentric with surface 69'. the diameter of surface 78 beinggreater than the diamter of surface 69. Plate 67', thus, provides aflange 79 which projects radially outwardly from the axis of surface 69beyond surface 69' to retain a rubber tube 711' on surface 69. Forassembly THE ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENT OF FIG. 10

Still another alternative embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG.10. This embodiment is indicated at 64" This embodiment is identical tothe embodiment of FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, except that hose clamp 72has been omitted. Vent valve 64" is illustrated to demonstrate that insome cases, there will be no requirement whatsoever for hose clamp 72.

THE ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENT OF FIGS. 11 AND 112 In FIG. 11, a portion ofa three-way valve 80 is shown including only a portion of a valve body811 integral with a rigid tube 82. In this embodiment, rigid tube 82includes a cylindrical wall 83 integral with valve body 81, as before,and a plate 84 integral withwall 83 which closes the end of tube 82 andhas a flange projection 85, as before, to retain a rubber tube 86 incircumferential tension around the cylindrical surface of wall 83. Thisis true in the case of all of the embodiments disclosed herein.

Wall 83 has four holes 87 extending completely therethrough rather thansix holes. Holes 87 are uniformly spaced around tube 82, as before.However, each pair of immediately adjacent holes have symmetrical axeslying in a plane perpendicular to the axis of tube 82 which areangularly spaced through an angle of 90.

Tube wall 83 has a circumferential groove 88 which extends completelyaround the circumference thereof and intercepts each hole 87.

As shown in FIG. 12, tube 86 has four uniformly spaced holes 89. Butagain, comparison of FIGS. 11 and 12 will reveal that holes 87 arestaggered relative to holes 89.

A section on the line B-B shown in FIG. 11 would be identical to thatshown in FIG. 12.

THE ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENT OF FIGS. 13, 14 AND 15 A section of analternative embodiment of the vent valve of the present invention isindicated at 90 in FIG. 13. Vent valve 90 is identical to the vent valveshown in FIGS. 11 and 12 with the following exceptions. For example,vent valve 90 has a plate 84 with a flange projection 85'. Plate 84' maybe identical to plate 84. Flange 85' may be identical to flange 85. Ventvalve 90 includes a rubber tube 86' having holes 89' therethrough. Tube86' may be identical to tube 86. It then follows that holes 89 may beidentical to holes 89. Comparison of FIGS. 11 and 12 with FIG. 13 willreveal that the only change in the vent valve 90 over the structuresshown in FIG. 11 and 12 relate to the addition of grooves 91 in theexternal surface of tube wall 83 which extend in the direction of thesymmetrical axis of the internal cylindrical surface 92 of tube wall 83.Wall 83 is otherwise identical to wall 83. Note will be taken that atleast one groove 91 intercepts each rubber tube hole 89. This makes ispossible to maintain the vent valve 90 cracked open for any finiteexhaust pressure, or for a zero exhaust pressure, gage. This may bedesirable at times to provide a controlled leak to drain back pressure.

Assuming that FIG. 11 is an accurate representation of one longitudinalsectional view through vent valve 90, FIG. 13 could represent sectionsthereof indicated on both the lines 12-12 and BB shown in FIG. 11.

As shown in FIG. 14, rigid tube wall 83' may be provided with four holes87 identical to holes 87 shown Note will be taken that the rubber tubedisclosed herein need not actually be made of rubber, but it ispreferably made of a rubber-like material.

In many respects, the drawings may be considered as a scale drawings,but as stated previously, the invention is by no means limited to therelative dimensions illustrated.

This invention has more than one feature. The invention is, therefore,not limited to any particular feature. Any one feature may be employedcompletely by itself. Alternatively, any one feature of the presentinvention may be employed with one or more or all of the other featureswithout departing from the scope of the present invention.

Alternatively, if grooves 91 are employed as shown in FIGS. l3, l4 and15, those grooves 91 which do or do not intercept rubber tube holes 89'may be omitted, if desired.

ADVANTAGES From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that one featureof the invention resides in the interference fit between the rigid andelastic tubes disclosed herein.

Still another feature of the invention resides in the use of the rigidtube holes being staggered relative to the elastic tube holes.

It is an outstanding advantage of the present inven tion that the rigidand elastic tubes are easy to construct, to assemble and to operate as avent valve.

Another important feature of the invention is that the elastic tubeexpands away from the rigid tube and can hunt for the weakest place inice surrounding the same and crack it and break it off of the vent valveof the present invention at the said weakest place.

Another outstanding advantage of the present invention is that the ventvalve of the invention substantially increases the dumping rate of thethree-way valve. This is wholly unexpected because normally anyrestriction in the exhaust of a valve will slow down rather than speedup the volume rate of flow through the exhaust. Note will be taken'thatthis is especially important in relation to anti-skid braking systemsbecause to prevent a skid, the braking system must act very rapidly.

Another outstanding and unexpected advantage of the present invention isthat the staggered holes in the rigid tube increases endurance anduseful life. Further, in some cases, the holes in the elastic tubeprevent it from ballooning and bursting.

DEFINITIONS Extremely accurate hole locations are not critical. However,in general, each immediately adjacent pair of holes in the rigid tubewill be spaced by an angle [3 defined by the equation [3 360/n indegrees, where n is the number of the rigid tube holes.

If the elastic tubemay be described as having one set of holes, theholes being m in number, and another set of holes, the other set ofholesbeing p in number, the equivalent angular spacing of each pair ofadjacent holes in the one set and in the other set of these spacings maybe defined by the equations A z 360/m in degrees and 8 z 360/p indegrees, respectively.

The phrase holes spaced" is hereby defined for use herein and in theclaims to mean that the rigid tube holes do not completely register withthe holes in the elastic tube.

What is claimed is:

1. A combination valve comprising: a valve body having inlet, outlet andexhaust ports, said inlet port being adapted to receive a pressurizedfluid, said outlet port being adapted for conneetion'with fluid pressureactuable means; a vent valve mounted on said valve body in a positionsubstantially sealing off said exhaust port. said vent valve beingresponsive to a predetermined pressure differential thereacross to openand to allow fluid entering said outlet port to exit through saidexhaust port and said vent valve to a point external of said valve body,said valve body having inlet and exhaust chambers in free and opencommunication with said inlet and exhaust ports, respectively, each ofsaid inlet and exhaust chambers having walls defining ports opening intosaid outlet port, said inlet and exhaust chamber ports having inlet andexhaust valve seats therearound; valve means actuable to engage saidinlet and exhaust seats one at a time to close off said inlet andexhaust chamber ports, respectively, said valve means being constuctedin a manner such that said valve means can close off only one of saidinlet and exhaust chamber ports at a time, said valve body including anactuating chamber; first selectively operable means responsive to thedifference between the pressures in said actuating and exhaust chambersfor closing said inlet and exhaust chamber ports; second selectivelyoperable means for raising and lowering the pressure in said actuatingchamber, said inlet and exhaust chamber ports, and valve seats are allannular and concentric with each other about a predetermined axis, saidfirst means including a flexible diaphragm having its edge fixed insealing engagement with said valve body in a position separating saidactuating and exhaust chambers, a valve stem having one end fixedrelative to a central portion of said diaphragm in a position extendingcentrally through and in spaced relation to the said walls of said inletand exhaust chamber ports, said valve body having a recessed guidetherein having a recess uniform in cross section along its length, theother end of said valve stem being uniform in cross section along itslength and being slidably positioned in said guide recess, said valvemeans including disc means fixed to said valve stem in a position tomove between first and second positions lying in sealing engagement withsaid inlet and exhaustvalve seats, respectively, and closing therespective inlet and exhaust chamber ports, said second means includingpilot valve means having an inlet, an outlet and a vent, said pilotvalve means including a housing having a chamber therein and a pilotvalve movable in said pilot valve chamber, said pilot valve means inletincluding a first passageway in communication between said inlet chamberand said pilot valve chamber, said pilot valve means outlet including asecond passageway in communication between said pilot valve andactuating chambers, said operator means adjacent sad pilot valve tocause it to close said pilot valve means inlet and vent, but only one ofthem at a time, said vent valve including a hollow cylinder having acylindrical external surface with an axis of symmetry, said cylinderhaving one end closed and its opposite end open but fixed'relatively toand substantially sealed to said valve body in a position surroundingsaid exhaust port, and a hollow rubber tube having an inside diameterslightly less than the outside diameter of said cylinder, said tubebeing pulled over said cylinder external surface with an interferencefit and being in circumferential tension for that reason, means to clampthe end of said tube against said cylinder external surface at saidopposite cylinder end, said cylinder having six approximately circularspaced holes through the wall thereof, said cylinder holes having axeslying in substantially a single first plane perpendicular to saidsurface axis, said cylinder hole axes plane being located between andspaced from said cylinder ends, each cylinder hole axis being angularlyspaced from the axis of each hole on each side thereof an angle of 60,said tube having first and second spaced sets of holes therethrough,each set including six spaced approximately circular holes, the holes insaid first set having axes lying in a second plane parallel to saidfirst plane between said one cylinder end and said first plane, theholes in said second set having axes lying in a third plane parallel tosaid first plane between said opposite cylinder end and said firstplane, said cylinder holes being spaced from all the holes of said firstand second sets, the hole axis of each hole in said first set beingangularly spaced from the axes of the holes in said first setimmediately adjacent thereto an angle of 60, the hole axis of each holein said second set being angularly spaced from the axes of 60, a firstgroup of planes passing through the holes axes of pairs of oppositeholes in said first set and also passing through said cylinder axis andalso passing through a respective corresponding axes of pairs ofopposite holesin said second set, a second group of planes through saidcylinder hole axes and said cylinder axis being located midway betweeneach respective corresponding immediately adjacent pair of planes insaid first group.

2. A combination valve comprising: a valve body having inlet, outlet andexhaust ports, said inlet port being adapted to receive a pressurizedfluid, said outlet port being adapted for connection with fluid pressureactuable means; a vent valve mounted on said valve body in a positionsubstantially sealing off said exhaust port, said vent valve beingresponsive to a predetermined pressure differential thereacross to openand to allow fluid entering said outlet port to exit through saidexhaust port and said vent valve to a point external of said valve body,said valve body having inlet and exhaust chambers in free and opencommunication with said inlet and exhaust ports, respectively, each ofsaid inlet and exhaust chambers having walls defining ports opening intosaid outlet port, said inlet and exhaust chamber ports having inlet andexhaust valve seats therearound; valve means actuable to engage saidinlet and exhaust seats one at a time to close off said inlet andexhaust chamber ports, respectively, said valve means being constructedin a manner such that said valve means can close off only one of saidinlet and exhaust chamber ports at a time, said valve body including anactuating chamber; first selectively operable means responsive to thedifference between the pressures in said actuating and exhaust chambersfor closing said inlet and exhaust chamber ports; second selectivelyoperable means for raising and lowering the pressure in said actuatingchamber, said vent valve including a hollow cylinder having acylindrical external surface with an axis of symmetry, said cylinderhaving one end closed and'its opposite end open but fixed relatively toand substantially sealed to said valve body in a position surroundingsaid exhaust port, and a hollow rubber tube having an inside diameterslightly less than the outside diameter of said cylinder, said tubebeing pulled over said cylinder external surface with an interferencetit and being in circumferential tension for that reason, means to clampthe end of said tube against said cylinder external surface at saidopposite cylinder end, said cylinder having six approximately circularspaced holes through the wall thereof, said cylinder holes having axeslying in substantially a single first plane perpendicular to saidsurface axis, said cylinder hole axes plane being located between andspaced from said cylinder ends, each cylinder hole axes plane beinglocated between and spaced from said cylinder ends, each cylinder holeaxis being angularly spaced from the axis of each hole on each sidethereof an angle of 60, said tube having first and second spaced sets ofholes therethrough, each set including six spaced approximately circularholes, the holes in said first set having axes lying in a second planeparallel to said first plane between said one cylinder end and saidfirst plane, the holes in said second set having axes lying a thirdplane parallel to said first plane between said opposite cylinder endand said first plane, said cylinder holes being spaced from all theholes of said first and second sets, the hole axis of each hole in saidfirst set being angularly spaced from the axes of the'holes in saidfirst set immediately adjacent thereto an angle of 60, the hole axis ofeach hole in said second set being angularly spaced from the axes of theholes in said second set immediately adjacent thereto an angle of 60, afirst group of planes passing through the hole axes of pairs of oppositeholes in said first set and also passing through said cylinder axis andalso passing through a respective corresponding axes of pairs ofopposite holes in said second set, a second group of planes through saidcylinder hole axes and said cylinder axis being located midway betweeneach respective corresponding immediately adjacent pair of planes insaid first group.

3. A combination valve comprising: a first body having a passageway forreceiving a fluid under pressure,

said first body having an exhaust port: a dump valve actuable to closeoff communication between said passageway and said exhaust port, anddeactuable to open to permit such communication: and a vent valve fixedaround said exhaust port to receive fluid flowing outwardly therethroughand to vent such fluid to a location external of said first body, saidvent valve including a second body closed at one end and open at theother, said second body having said open end thereof fixed around saidsecond port, said second body being hollow and defining a chambertherein in communication with said exhaust port through said second bodyopen end, said second body having a wall with an external cylindricalsurface, said wall having at least one hole therethrough interruptingsaid cylindrical surface thereof and placing the exterior of said secondbody in communication with said chamber through said hole: andcylindrical elastic membrane extending over said wall surface having anunstressed inside diameter less than the diameter of said surface toeffect an interference fit, said membrane being in pressure contact withthat portion of said cylindrical surface which surrounds said hole, atleast a portion of said membrane being responsive to fluid pressure insaid chamber larger than that external thereof to baloon and to expandaway from said cylindrical wall surface in a manner to permit fluidflowing outwardly of said hole to be vented outside said second bodythrough a space between said second body and said membrane, saidmembrane having at least one aperture extending completely through thethickness thereof, the hole through said second body being spaced fromand completely out of registration with said aperture, said aperturebeing positioned to protect said membrane from balooning and bursting.

- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE (5/69) filzllllilfid 0F COR BUTTON PatentNo. 3 l4 ,132 Dated Tune 4, 1974 Inv n fl Roqer Greenwood and Thomas A.Roberts It is certified eicirnr appears inthe ebove=ldentified patentend that eeid lleitenit ere hereby en'zi'ected as shown below:

On the absn'eei page, in the title 0f the invention delete "COMEZUSTION"and insert -GOhilEl'illATlOlii' Column 1, in the title of the invention,delete "COMBUSTION" and insert ---C lviBlIll'ATl'Ol Column 1, line 28,eitei" "art" insert vent- 0 Cnlun'ln 5:, line 18, after "sealed" insert--ie-- Cnlumn 6, line 40, deleie "diemier" and insert -diameter,

Column 7, line 40, delete Pig,," and insert --Pigs.,-o

Column 7, line 46, delete "is" and insert ---it..

Column 9, line 55, delete "snd and insert --said-.. Column 10, lineZZdelete "holes" and insert hole-.,

Cnlumn 11, line 16, after "lying" insert "in",

Celumn 12, line 10, delete "second" and insert -exhaust-.

Signed and sealed this 19th day ef November, 1974,

(SEAL) Attest:

MCCOY H, GIBSON JR C, MARSHALL DANN Attesting OffieerCUiilllliSSiOl'lQlf of Patents

1. A combination valve comprising: a valve body having inlet, outlet andexhaust ports, said inlet port being adapted to receive a pressurizedfluid, said outlet port being adapted for connection with fluid pressureactuable means; a vent valve mounted on said valve body in a positionsubstantially sealing off said exhaust port, said vent valve beingresponsive to a predetermined pressure differential thereacross to openand to allow fluid entering said outlet port to exit through saidexhaust port and said vent valve to a point external of said valve body,said valve body having inlet and exhaust chambers in free and opencommunication with said inlet and exhaust ports, respectively, each ofsaid iNlet and exhaust chambers having walls defining ports opening intosaid outlet port, said inlet and exhaust chamber ports having inlet andexhaust valve seats therearound; valve means actuable to engage saidinlet and exhaust seats one at a time to close off said inlet andexhaust chamber ports, respectively, said valve means being constuctedin a manner such that said valve means can close off only one of saidinlet and exhaust chamber ports at a time, said valve body including anactuating chamber; first selectively operable means responsive to thedifference between the pressures in said actuating and exhaust chambersfor closing said inlet and exhaust chamber ports; second selectivelyoperable means for raising and lowering the pressure in said actuatingchamber, said inlet and exhaust chamber ports, and valve seats are allannular and concentric with each other about a predetermined axis, saidfirst means including a flexible diaphragm having its edge fixed insealing engagement with said valve body in a position separating saidactuating and exhaust chambers, a valve stem having one end fixedrelative to a central portion of said diaphragm in a position extendingcentrally through and in spaced relation to the said walls of said inletand exhaust chamber ports, said valve body having a recessed guidetherein having a recess uniform in cross section along its length, theother end of said valve stem being uniform in cross section along itslength and being slidably positioned in said guide recess, said valvemeans including disc means fixed to said valve stem in a position tomove between first and second positions lying in sealing engagement withsaid inlet and exhaust valve seats, respectively, and closing therespective inlet and exhaust chamber ports, said second means includingpilot valve means having an inlet, an outlet and a vent, said pilotvalve means including a housing having a chamber therein and a pilotvalve movable in said pilot valve chamber, said pilot valve means inletincluding a first passageway in communication between said inlet chamberand said pilot valve chamber, said pilot valve means outlet including asecond passageway in communication between said pilot valve andactuating chambers, said operator means adjacent sad pilot valve tocause it to close said pilot valve means inlet and vent, but only one ofthem at a time, said vent valve including a hollow cylinder having acylindrical external surface with an axis of symmetry, said cylinderhaving one end closed and its opposite end open but fixed relatively toand substantially sealed to said valve body in a position surroundingsaid exhaust port, and a hollow rubber tube having an inside diameterslightly less than the outside diameter of said cylinder, said tubebeing pulled over said cylinder external surface with an interferencefit and being in circumferential tension for that reason, means to clampthe end of said tube against said cylinder external surface at saidopposite cylinder end, said cylinder having six approximately circularspaced holes through the wall thereof, said cylinder holes having axeslying in substantially a single first plane perpendicular to saidsurface axis, said cylinder hole axes'' plane being located between andspaced from said cylinder ends, each cylinder hole axis being angularlyspaced from the axis of each hole on each side thereof an angle of 60*,said tube having first and second spaced sets of holes therethrough,each set including six spaced approximately circular holes, the holes insaid first set having axes lying in a second plane parallel to saidfirst plane between said one cylinder end and said first plane, theholes in said second set having axes lying in a third plane parallel tosaid first plane between said opposite cylinder end and said firstplane, said cylinder holes being spaced from all the holes of said firstand second sets, the hole axis of each hole in said first set beingangularly spaced from the axes of the holes in said first setImmediately adjacent thereto an angle of 60*, the hole axis of each holein said second set being angularly spaced from the axes of 60*, a firstgroup of planes passing through the holes axes of pairs of oppositeholes in said first set and also passing through said cylinder axis andalso passing through a respective corresponding axes of pairs ofopposite holes in said second set, a second group of planes through saidcylinder hole axes and said cylinder axis being located midway betweeneach respective corresponding immediately adjacent pair of planes insaid first group.
 2. A combination valve comprising: a valve body havinginlet, outlet and exhaust ports, said inlet port being adapted toreceive a pressurized fluid, said outlet port being adapted forconnection with fluid pressure actuable means; a vent valve mounted onsaid valve body in a position substantially sealing off said exhaustport, said vent valve being responsive to a predetermined pressuredifferential thereacross to open and to allow fluid entering said outletport to exit through said exhaust port and said vent valve to a pointexternal of said valve body, said valve body having inlet and exhaustchambers in free and open communication with said inlet and exhaustports, respectively, each of said inlet and exhaust chambers havingwalls defining ports opening into said outlet port, said inlet andexhaust chamber ports having inlet and exhaust valve seats therearound;valve means actuable to engage said inlet and exhaust seats one at atime to close off said inlet and exhaust chamber ports, respectively,said valve means being constructed in a manner such that said valvemeans can close off only one of said inlet and exhaust chamber ports ata time, said valve body including an actuating chamber; firstselectively operable means responsive to the difference between thepressures in said actuating and exhaust chambers for closing said inletand exhaust chamber ports; second selectively operable means for raisingand lowering the pressure in said actuating chamber, said vent valveincluding a hollow cylinder having a cylindrical external surface withan axis of symmetry, said cylinder having one end closed and itsopposite end open but fixed relatively to and substantially sealed tosaid valve body in a position surrounding said exhaust port, and ahollow rubber tube having an inside diameter slightly less than theoutside diameter of said cylinder, said tube being pulled over saidcylinder external surface with an interference fit and being incircumferential tension for that reason, means to clamp the end of saidtube against said cylinder external surface at said opposite cylinderend, said cylinder having six approximately circular spaced holesthrough the wall thereof, said cylinder holes having axes lying insubstantially a single first plane perpendicular to said surface axis,said cylinder hole axes'' plane being located between and spaced fromsaid cylinder ends, each cylinder hole axes'' plane being locatedbetween and spaced from said cylinder ends, each cylinder hole axisbeing angularly spaced from the axis of each hole on each side thereofan angle of 60*, said tube having first and second spaced sets of holestherethrough, each set including six spaced approximately circularholes, the holes in said first set having axes lying in a second planeparallel to said first plane between said one cylinder end and saidfirst plane, the holes in said second set having axes lying a thirdplane parallel to said first plane between said opposite cylinder endand said first plane, said cylinder holes being spaced from all theholes of said first and second sets, the hole axis of each hole in saidfirst set being angularly spaced from the axes of the holes in saidfirst set immediately adjacent thereto an angle of 60*, the hole axis ofeach hole in said second set being angularly spaced from the axes of theholes in said second set immediately adjacent thereto an angle Of 60*, afirst group of planes passing through the hole axes of pairs of oppositeholes in said first set and also passing through said cylinder axis andalso passing through a respective corresponding axes of pairs ofopposite holes in said second set, a second group of planes through saidcylinder hole axes and said cylinder axis being located midway betweeneach respective corresponding immediately adjacent pair of planes insaid first group.
 3. A combination valve comprising: a first body havinga passageway for receiving a fluid under pressure, said first bodyhaving an exhaust port: a dump valve actuable to close off communicationbetween said passageway and said exhaust port, and deactuable to open topermit such communication: and a vent valve fixed around said exhaustport to receive fluid flowing outwardly therethrough and to vent suchfluid to a location external of said first body, said vent valveincluding a second body closed at one end and open at the other, saidsecond body having said open end thereof fixed around said second port,said second body being hollow and defining a chamber therein incommunication with said exhaust port through said second body open end,said second body having a wall with an external cylindrical surface,said wall having at least one hole therethrough interrupting saidcylindrical surface thereof and placing the exterior of said second bodyin communication with said chamber through said hole: and cylindricalelastic membrane extending over said wall surface having an unstressedinside diameter less than the diameter of said surface to effect aninterference fit, said membrane being in pressure contact with thatportion of said cylindrical surface which surrounds said hole, at leasta portion of said membrane being responsive to fluid pressure in saidchamber larger than that external thereof to baloon and to expand awayfrom said cylindrical wall surface in a manner to permit fluid flowingoutwardly of said hole to be vented outside said second body through aspace between said second body and said membrane, said membrane havingat least one aperture extending completely through the thicknessthereof, the hole through said second body being spaced from andcompletely out of registration with said aperture, said aperture beingpositioned to protect said membrane from balooning and bursting.